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Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce of Boston Celtics reach more milestones, then reflect on relationship and elite company

PAUL_PIERCE_KEVIN_GARNETT_HUG.JPG

Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett, right, chats with teammate Paul Pierce on the bench during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors in Boston, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Garnett scored 12 points, passing Jerry West for 15th on the NBA's career scoring list, and Pierce joined him among the top 20 scorers in league history with 15 points. The Celtics won 112-88.
(Photo by AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Milestones are falling like Harvey Specter's opponents in Suits - one after the other.

It seems like every game, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce pass another NBA legend on one all-time list or another. They both passed Hall of Famers on the scoring list Wednesday night -- Garnett edged past Jerry West for 15th place and Pierce moved by Charles Barkley for 20th.

After pounding the Toronto Raptors, both Pierce and Garnett reflected on their accomplishments.

Garnett on passing West: “I’m flattered to be honest. When they told me I passed Wes Unseld I was at a loss for words. You guys have no idea what I was like as a kid. I didn’t have all the magazines but for some reason I had all the pictures that were in the magazines. I don’t know how I was able to acquire that. That’s another story. I just fantasized, mimicked, appreciated – all the things that a young kid does when he’s creating heroes, when he’s creating stories in his head. Anything to generate any time of motivation. I guess at times to generate a distraction. Anytime I used it for inspiration through a hard day.

"So when you guys are telling me that I’m surpassing somebody that I used for these different reasons, it’s another form of feeling. It’s another form of emotion. Someday I’ll probably sit back and actually think about and it’ll probably mean something, but the one word I just keep thinking about is that I’m flattered. Because without those people, those players who’ve created our history, made our league what it is – for younger guys like myself to follow in the path, it wouldn’t be no Kevin Garnetts, it wouldn’t be any of the yesteryears, so I’m flattered."

Garnett on playing with Pierce while he attains so much success: “What you all don’t know is that Paul and I have history and it’s only right that we come in here and we make history together. Thirteen, 14, tearing up his Mom’s living room, breaking vases, almost getting ass whooped, first time I ever experienced Crenshaw on a Sunday – for you all that don’t know what Crenshaw on a Sunday is, Crenshaw on a Sunday is a big deal – Crenshaw on a Sunday taking me out being 15, 16 years old.

"Then finally being able to follow our dreams, McDonalds, having some duration together, trying to go to the same school then obviously going different paths then finally meeting up here in Boston, winning a championship, doing the things we’ve been doing since we’ve been here. Twenty-thousand points, surpassing people we watched when we grew up and everything, obviously idolizing – it’s special. It’s best to do it with a personal friend.

"Not just a teammate but a real friend. Someone that knows you, knows your family, knows where you come from and vice versa. Knows the things that motivate you and push you. I always tell people I’ve got the greatest seat in the house to watch one of the best players in NBA history put the ball in the basket every night. It’s special to be able to do it with him.”